US1797933A - Railroad switch - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1931. N. TUZZO RAILROAD SWITCH Filed 001;. 10, 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N. TUZZO March 24, 1931.

RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Oct. 10, 3 Sheets-Sheet -2 March 24, 1931. N. TUZZO RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Oct. 10, 192 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W Wy aw Q til Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED sA'rEs PATENTQFFEVCE NIGHOIQASTUZZO, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JOHN P. RUPP,

a OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK RAILRO D SWITCH Application filed October 10, 1929. Serial N0l398,649.

This invention relates to improvements in switches for railroad tracks.

Its chief obj ect'is the provision of pointless switch which is constructed andarranged to furnish a straight or full rail at all times and thereby reduce to a minimum the possibility of derailment of cars and the wear on the car-wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and reliable means for connecting the switch rails to the main track and siding or turnout rails. I

A still further object is to provide effective means for maintaining the sections of the switch rails in their correct relative positions.

In the accompanying drawings s Figure l is a top plan view of a railroad switch embodying my invention, showing the switch set for main line traffic. Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially through the web portions of the rails. Figure 3 is a top plan View of the switch, showing the same set for a siding or branch line traific. Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section similar to Figure 2. Fig

ure 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken online 5-5, Figure 1. Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary side views of the hinge means for connecting the switch-rails to the trackrails. Figures 8 and-9 are vperspective views of the plates which are disposed in sliding relation between companion switch-rails.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

' In its general organization, this improved switch differs from the ordinary type of standard switch in that it is pointless and comprises two setsor pairs of laterally shiftable switch-rails or standard gage track: sections, the rails of one pair being flexibly joined to adjoining ends of the main track, and the other set of switch-rails being similarly connected to the adjoining rails of. the side track. Both sets of switch-rails are joined or coupled as a single unit'to be operated by any suitable and well known switchactuating means, sothat when the switch-.

Referring now to the drawings, 10, 10 indlcate the main or straight stretch of track and 11, 11 indicate the branch or side track shunted fromthe main track and joined to it by my improved switchjwhich is-in the 7 form of duplex rail-sectionsinterposed at the junction of the main track and side track. Such switch, in the preferred construction shown in the drawings, consists of two sets or pairs of rails 12, '12 and 13, 13, the switchrails 12, 12 being straight andof uniform width as to tread'surface to form continuations of the main track-rails and to connect the latter at the switching zone so as to furnish a full uninterrupted tread surface when the switch is set for throughtrafiic on the main line. The other switch- rails 13, 13 of each pair are curved in the direction of their length to form continuations of the branch or side track 11, these likewiseforming a full tread surface at the switching-zone when the switch is set for traflic to be diverted from the main line to the branch line. Y

The companion rails 12, 13 of'the corresponding pairs 'of switch-rails are disposed side by side and are coupled to each other to maintain their correctrelative position during the movement of the switch. The companion rails at one side of the track are joined to the corresponding switch-rails at the other side of the track to permitof a simultaneous movementof both pairs of switch-rails during the switching operation. The movement of the switch-rails is a laterally swinging one, and for this purpose the switch- rails 12, 13 are preferably joined to the opposing ends of the main track 10 and branch track 11 by a hinge connection,the latter being so constructed and arranged as'to permit ofbringing the straight rails 12 into alinement with the-main. track 10, while the curved rails 13 are shifted out of alinement with such main track-rails and vice versa. Inasmuch as the hingedc'onnection at the several points is the same, a description of one will suffice for all. Referringnow to Figures 2, 4i, 6 and7, numerals 14, 15 indicate the members of a pair of straplike hinges, which are bolted or otherwise fastened to one side of the webs of adjoining track and switch rails 10, 12 or 11, 13, the opposing inner ends of these hinges being coupled by an upright pintle 16 whose axis is located substantially in the plane of the joint between the companion rail sections. Disposed at the opposite side of the adjoinmg track and switch- rails 10, 12 or 11, 13 are companion hinge members 17, 18 connected at their opposing inner ends by an upright hinge pintle 19 whose axis is likewise located substantially in the plane of the joint between the companion rail-sections. 'I-he hinge member 17 is bolted or otherwise fastened to the web of one of the companion rail-sections, while the other hinge member 18 has a sliding connection with its companion rail-section to permit of the relative movements required between the switch-rail 12 or13 andthe adjoining track- rail 10 or 11. For this purpose, the hinge member 18 terminates in a guide element or extension 20 spaced laterally from and substantially parallel with the rail-web and guided intermediate its ends in a bracket 21 secured to the respective rail. Applied to the free end of the extension 20 and interposed between the adjoining end of: the guide bracket and a nut 22 on such extension is a spring 23 which acts to yieldingly permit the necessary movement of the hinge member 18 lengthwise ofthe track during the swinging movement of the switch-rail. In other words, as the switch-rail 12 for example, is shifted from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4:, its hinged connection with themain track-rail is accordingly broken or separated at its inner side and in so doing the hinge-member 18 is, tree to move with the hinge pintle 19 lengthwise relative to the main track-rail. In the closed or operative position of the pairs of switch- rails 12 or 13, their hinged joints are closed flush with the adjoining track- rails 10 or 11, while in the open or inoperative position of such pairs of switch-rails, their hinged joints are partially openor broken. The hinge elements of both pairs of switchrails are so disposed that, as the straight-rails 12, for example, are moved from the closed position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the open position shown in Figures 3 and 1, the curved switch-rails 13 swing simultaneously with said straight-rails to their closed position. This result is accomplished by locating the hinge members 1 1, 15,17 and 18 of the straightrails 12 reversely to those of the companion curved rails 13 as clearly illustrated inthe drawings.

In order to compel the two pairs of straight and curved switch- rails 12, 13 to more in unison during the opening and closing' of the switch, the companion rails of the pairs are tied to each other and supported One of the chairs nearest the open or free end pt the switch is shown connected to a switch actuating lever 27, whereby the switch may be operated. It is to be understood, however, that any other means may be employed for actuating the switch.

It is desirable to provide means for positively limiting the opening and closing moveswitch- rails 12, 13 are insured correct alinement with the corresponding tracks of the main or branch line. To this end, I provide suitable stop members 28, which may be in the form of flanged plates applied to the railroad ties and properly located to cause the bases of the rails to engage them at the extreme movements in the opening and closing of the switch. I have also shown stop plates which are applied to the free ends ofthe respective switch-rails and which are adapted to contact with the. webs of the adjoining straight-rails 10 and. thereby assist in insuring the proper alinement of the switch-rails with the main track.

Adjacent their front and rear ends, the opposing sides of the companion straight and curved switch- rails 12, 13 are preferably pro vided with opposing bearing plates 31 bolted at their ends to the webs of the respective switch-rails and bearing flatwise against each other in sliding relation and to permit of any relative longitudinal movement between said rails as the switch is operated. These plates are flanged at one edge, as indicated at 32, to engage the opposing edge of the companion plate in the manner shown in Figure 5. This construction assists in maintaining the companion switch-rails in horizontal alinement.

In order to insure that the tread-faces of the switch-rails be maintained flush or in horizontal alinement with the corresponding faces of the track-rails 10, the ties on either side of the open end of the switch are preferably tied to one another by longitudinal bars 33.

This improved switch, being pointless, affords a full track-rail at all times, whether the switch be in an open or closed position, it re: duces to a minimum the wear on the rolling stock, and prevents derailment of trains at switch points.

I claim as my invention 1. In a switch, the combination with a. main track and branch track, of two pairs of simultaneously movable switch-rails spaced to correspond to the width of said tracks, one pair of rails'constitutinga continuation and part 'inents of the switch so that the respective of the main track and the other pair constituting a continuation and part of the branch track, one of the switch-rails of each pair being disposed alongside the companion rails of the other pair, means for holding such companion sets of switch-rails against relative lateral displacement, means for hingedly connecting one end of said switch-rails with the corresponding main and branch tracks, whereby when one pair of switch-rails is moved into switching position the other is moved out of such position, and stop members applied to the free ends of said switch-rails forv engagement with the adjoining ends of the main track rails for limiting the move ment of the switch-rails in either direction and maintaining them in alinement with the main track.

2. In a switch, the combination with a main track and a branch track, of two pairs of simultaneously movable switch-rails spaced to correspond to the width of said tracks, one pair of rails constituting a continuation and part of the main track and the other pair constituting a continuation and part of the branch track, one of the switch-rails of each pair being disposed alongsidethe companion rail of the other pair, means for holding such companion sets of switch-rails against lateral relative displacement, bearing plates applied to the opposing sides of adjoining switchrails in sliding engagement with each other and each having a flange at one edge to engage the opposing edge of the companion plate for maintaining such adjoining switch-rails in 1 horizontal almement, means for lnngedly connecting one end of said switch-rails with the corresponding main and branchtracks, whereby when one pair of switch-rails is moved into switching position the other is moved out of such position, and means for connecting the companion sets of switch-rails as a unit to permit their movement about their hinges, one pair of switch-rails being moved to an operative position relative to the main track or branch track when the other pair is moved to an inoperative position.

3. A track switch, comprising two pairs of rails forming continuations of the main and branch tracks and adapted for simultaneous lateral-swinging movement into and out of switching position, and hinge connections applied to one end of said switch-rails for attachment to the corresponding track-rails, each hinge connection including a pair of elements joined by an upright pintle at a point substantially in line with the joint faces of the rails, one of said hinge-elements being fixed to its rail and the other hinge element being free to slide relative to the companion rail in a direction lengthwise thereof during the switching movement.

4. A track switch, comprising two pairs of rails forming continuations of the main and branch tracks and adapted for simultaneous lateral-swinging movement into and out of switching position, and hinge means for connecting one end of said switch-rails to the corresponding track-rails, each hinge means including two sets of hinge members disposed on opposite sides of the switch-rail with their hinge-axes positioned substantially in line with the joint face of the rail, the hinge members of one set being adapted for fixed connection to the switch-rail and companion track-rail, and the hinge members of the other set being adapted respectively, for fixed connection to one of said last-named rails and for sliding connection to the other of said rails, such sliding connection including a bearing element applied to one'of-the rails, a guide element on the sliding hinge member extending through said bearing element, and a spring applied to the extension of said guide element. j

' NICHOLAS TU ZZO.

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